MORE OF THE WILD DUCK FAMILY 251 



THE EIDER DUCK. 

 {Somateria mollissima.) 



Male. — Frontal angles of bill narrow, fleshy, 

 and slightly elevated. The rough basal part of the 

 upper mandible is oil green, the rest bluish-grey, 

 with a tinge of green ; the nail yellowish-grey ; 

 iris deep brown. Head black above, with a middle 

 white band ; hind -part of cheeks and nape pale 

 green ; fore-neck cream-coloured. Hind-neck, back, 

 scapulars, smaller wing coverts, and inner secondary 

 quills white ; breast, sides, belly, and rump black ; 

 feet oil green ; membranes pale greenish-brown. 

 Length, from bill to end of tail, twenty-six inches. 



Female. — Head and neck pale reddish-brown, 

 streaked with dusky ; upper parts dark brown, 

 marked with light red ; lower parts reddish brown, 

 with dusky markings. Length, to end of tail, 

 twenty-four inches. 



